Self-priming centrifugal pump



April 29, 194.1. P. G. BQGDANOFF 2,240,128

SELF-PRIMING CENTRIFUGL PUMP Filed Nov. 12,- 1938 z sneet-sheet 1 l y 38 .I 25

40 i la I IHVEHTIJR 42 l' 2 P4111; G. BasnANuFF Patented Apr. 29, 1941I 1 Claim.

This invention relates toa self-priming cenrtrifugal pump in which a vane impelleris rotatchamber in more or less tangential relation therewith.

Centrifugal pumps of the above mentioned class have heretofore been provided with a self-priming feature but, insofar as applicant is aware, these pumps have been so constructed that the priming liquid is introduced -to the impeller in such a manner that this liquid becomes impregnated or more or less mixed or diluted with the air being drawn into the pump or impeller chamber during the priming operation. 'I'his diluting the priming liquid with a compressible fluid reduces the efiiciency of the liquid and thereby prolongs the priming operation.

The main object of this inventiorkis to produce a self-priming fluid pump of the centrifugal type wherein the priming liquid will be introduced to the vanes of the impeller in an improved manner so as to obtain maximum action of the priming liquid without decreasing the efficiency of the pump an excessive amount.

Another object of the invention isl to produce a pump of the above mentioned class which is simple, inexpensive and durable in construction and which does not require attention or adjustment during operation.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide means for delivering the priming liquid to the impeller in substantially the same efficient 'manner as the uid being pumped so as to eliminate to a maximum degree resistance to the operation of the impeller and thereby contribute to the maximum eiciency of the pump.

Another object of the invention is to maintain the priming uid and the fluid being pumped separate and distinct fromv each other during the entrance of said latter fluid into the impeller chamber and until after the priming uid has entered the space between the impeller vanes.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the pump =that the priming uid'and the fluid being pumped will be intermittently introduced into the spaces betweenv the impeller vanes in alternate relation with each other so UNITED STATES PAT-ENTI* Paul G. Bogdano', Baldwinsville, N. Y.

Application November 12,' 1938, `Serial No. 239,960

(Cl. 10S-113) that each space dened by the impeller vanes' through the intake conduits of the pumping sys-` tem.v In otherwords, I have produceda pumping mechanism wherein the priming fluid, as

water, and the air being drawn into the pump chamber enter between the impeller vanes in slugs, and the slugs of water alternate with the slugs of air and these slugs of water function as incompressible pistons as they move outwardly through said passages to create a suction at the view taken on line 2 2, Figure A1, illustrating the pump on a larger scale. y

Figure 3 is a ldetail horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through the impeller chamber taken on line 4 4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail vertical sectional vie'w taken on line 5 5, Figure 2.

As illustrated in the drawings, the pump comprises a casing I0 composed of sections II, I2 and I3 secured together, as by bolts I4. The drive shaft I6 is mounted in suitable bearings I1 and I8 carried by the casesection I3 and has secured to the inner end thereof animp'eller or rotor I 9. The impeller I9 operates in a volute pumping chamber 2| formed, as shown in Figure 2, between the case sections II, I2 and I3. The impeller I9 is of the closed type having the usual spiral passages 22 separated by the spiral walls or vanes 23, as shown more particularly in Figure 4. The base or inner ends of the impeller Ivanes are arranged in registration with .the peripheral surface of an annular recess 20' formed Ain the outer or inlet side of the hub 20v of the impeller I9.

The pumpris provided with a vertically disposed inlet chamber 25 formed in the case section II. Chamber 25 is provided with a circular outlet opening or passage 26 of substantially the same diameter asthe recess 20 provided in the hub of the impeller I9 andwhich communicates with the pump chamber 2I in substantial alignmentv with the axis' of rotation of the shaft I6 and impeller I9. r`The upper end of the inlet chamber 25 is lprovided with an inlet opening 21 arranged above the opening 26y and eye of the impeller. -The inlet opening 21 may, as shown in Figure 2, be provided .with `internal screw threads'28 by lwhich a suitable intalielconduit (not shown) may be secured to the pump case 'This structure of the compartments 40, 4| and 42 provides the compartment 46 with two out- The pump is provided with a vertically disposed l discharge passage 30 formed in the case section I2 to extend from one side of the pump chamber 2| in substantial tangential relation thereto. The discharge passage increases in cross sectional area from the chamber 2| upwardly and has the upper,

wardly facing discharge openings 40' arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the impeller recess 26', while compartments 4| and 42 are each provided with one outwardly facing discharge opening 4|' and 42', respectively. Opentherein over the pump chamber 2|, as illustrated in Figure 4. The chamber 33 is maintained in communication with the discharge passage 36 by an inlet port 34 formed in the case wall 34' separating said chamber from the discharge passage. 'I'he chamber 33 is also provided with a pair of outlet ports 35 arranged at opposite sides of the vertical plane passing through the axis of the drive shaft 'I6 and impeller I9.

The outlet ports 35 are in communication with the upper ends of a pair of outlet passages 36 formed in the case section I| at opposite sides of the inlet chamber 25. yThe passages 36 extend downwardly from the ports 35 in substantially parallel relation with each other and havethe lower ends thereof provided with laterally disposed portions 36 extending inwardly toward each other at diametrically opposite sides of opening 26, as shown more particularly in Figure 5.

The casing section II is provided with a pair of substantially flat ilns 36 arranged adjacent the opening 26 at the inner-adjacent sides of passages 36', and extend forwardly from said opening 'in substantially parallel relation into the pump chamber 2l or rather into the impeller recess 26' at diametrically opposite sides of the shaft I6 to a position beyond the base or inner ends of the impeller passages 22, as indicated in Figures 2.and 3. These ns 38 cooperate with the peripheral wall of recess to divide the outlet opening 26 of the inletchamber 25 into three separate and distinct compartments or passages 46, 4| and 42. The compartment 46 is in communication with the inlet chamber and is arranged between the compartments 4| and 42 for guiding the fluid entering the pump chamber 2| from the inlet chamber 25 to the base portion of the impeller passages 22. The compartments-4| and 42 are arranged at diametrically opposite sides of the compartment 40 arid are adapted to maintain the passages 36 in communication with the base portions of the impeller passages 22.

The longitudinal side portions of the fins 38 are preferably slightly curved upwardly, as at 38', Figure 4, so as to extend substantially radially from the axis of the shaft |6. These portions i38' are arranged with their outer edge surfaces in substantially the plane of the adjacent peripheral surfaces of the opening 26 and impeller recess 26' 'so as to be in close proximity to the path of movement of the inner ends of the pump varies 23 during rotation of the impeller. In other words, the inner disposed compartment 40 formed by the iins 38 provides a passage for the ud being drawn into the pump chamber 2| and is separate from the passages or compartments 4| and 42 for the priming uid passing through the passages 36 from the chamber 33.

ings 4|' and 42' are also arranged at diametri- -cally opposite sides of the recess 46' and in substantially right angular relation to the openings 4D'. The circumferential lengths of openings 40 and 40', 4| and 42' may, as shown in Figure 4, be substantially equal although it will be understood that these lengths may be changed if desired by varying the positions of the outer deflected longitudinal edge portions 38' of the fins 38 so that openings 40' and 46' will be of greater or less circumferential length than openings 4|' and 42. It will now be observed that the discharge openings and 40', 4|' and 42' are arranged in series and to face the inner or butt ends of impeller vanes 23 so as to be swept in succession by said vanes duringrotation of the impeller.

Before beingbperated the pump is substantially filled with priming fluid, as water, which may be supplied to the pump in any suitable manner as through a suitable filler passage provided in the outlet pipe or conduit (not shown) connected with .the opening 3|v or the priming fluid may consist of the water remaining in the pump after the completion of the previous pumping action. This priming water substantially lls the chamber 33, discharge passage 30, passages 36, pump chamber 2|l and the inlet chamber 25 so that when the shaft I6 is rotated the impeller I9 withdraws the water from the compartments 40, 4| and 42 and forces it through the impeller passages 22 into the pump chamber 2| and thence upwardly through the discharge passage 30. As the water thus passes up through the passage 30 it increases in Volume and overflows into storage chamber 33.

Any excessive amount of water which may have' been in the pump will be discharged through the outlet opening 3|. As soon as the Water in the Sametime, the priming water entering the coinpartments 4I and 42 from the chamber 33 through the passages 36 will enter the impeller passage 22 passing over the discharge openings 4|' and 42' of the compartment 4| and 42. These quantities of water and air in the impeller passages 22 will be moved outwardly through said passages in spiral paths, as indicated at S and S', respectively, in Figure 4, due to the centrifugal and circumferential action produced thereon by the impeller vanes.

It will thus be seen that the quantities of water andl air in each impeller passage 22 will be in the form of slugs s and s' arranged in alternate relation with eachother so that as the slugs of water are thus moved outwardly through the passages 22 they function as incompressible pistons to produce a. partial vacuum at the rear sides thereof as the passages register with the discharge passages 40' and 46' of the compartment 46 and suck air from said discharge passages and compartment and, consequently, draw the air from with the inlet opening 21 and inlet chamber 25.

ripheral portion of the pump chamber 2| they will then be forced upwardly. through the discharge passage 30. As the air and'water approach the outlet opening 3|, the air is separated from the water and escapes through the outlet 3|. I'he water, due to the atmospheric pressure contained .in outlet opening 3|, will overflow through port 34 into the storage chamber 33. The water thus collected in the chamber 33 is re-circulated through the passage 36 and compartments 4| and 42 to be again picked up by the action of the impeller as the blades sweep -across the discharge passages 4|' and 42' of said compartments to Y of this character which are of conventional construction.

Although the construction and operation are particularly simple, practical and efiicient, I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of said construction shown as it is evident that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

In a centrifugal pump, a casing provided with a pump chamber having an inlet eye at its center and a volute surrounding said pump chamber with ,an upright outlet passage leading therefrom, a

vane impeller rotatably mounted in -the pump chamber with its axis of rotation in line with said inlet eye, an inlet passage communicating with said inlet eye at diametrically opposite sides of said axis of rotation of the impeller, a storage reservoir in said casing for priming liquid spaced from and arranged above said pump chamber and having a restricted inlet passage communicating with the outlet passage above the volute for receiving priming liquid from said latter passage, said case having additional passages extending downwardly from the reservoir at opposite sides oi the inlet passage separated therefrom and from said discharge passage and communicating with said inlet eye at opposite sides of said inlet pasator or the manipulation of certain control ele- 30 sage for the purpose set forth.

ments or valves as is often the case with pumps PAUL G. BOGDANOFF. 

